Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-12-06
The Widows Daughter.
M sxRar. 4 ~, nApeER. 4 !.

4 AA TIC NAutcE va Al-f1es ~
regiment, the New York Twenty fifth Cavalry,
mount, word was received by the post COM
maader that Confederate scout named Vim.
Baxter but who was known to us as ''' Billy
Bowlegsr was on q visit TO, his mother who
lived between the Potomac Mt that point and
Village In Virginia called Uuiontowu. There
were n number Of Col. Kane's ss Bnektaiis''
scouting for the Fedeials and making Pleasant
VALLEY their headquarters, and Us mad been
detailed on several occasions for scout service.
aud had made good record. was Instructed
to sele& i've men and cross the river and Sc
cure :. Billy" dead or alive. The fact that he
was ut home was fully established, aud the To-
Ecatfon OF the farm hoaselwas known to two OF
the men who accompanied me. We were fer
ried across the Potomac one evening at dusk
just where the long highway bridge had been
burned, and then We had a walk of about
eleven miles to make. tri
Although 4" Billy Bowlegsr was fearless
man and a handy shot, we didn,t figure that It
needed Eve men to capture him. The country
between the river and Uniontown was then
overrun with bushwhackers aud guerrillas. and
we anticipated more or less trouble with them.
The scout had been twice captured by tho
Federals, and he was described 20 us as of sleIs-
der build, medium height, fair complexion and
dark eyes. Enough was known about his
nerve to know that he wouldnot be taken alive
II he had any show to fight, and therefore as
we approached the house about midnight from
across a field we were auxiously wondering
how we should get at him. II we knocked ut
the door he wonld be alarmed and have time
10 arm himself II We broke it in we might
and probably should find him in bed, II was
n still, clear night, rather cold, and we hung
| about for half an hour before adopting plan.
! Then decided to break in the doors. Two
of us went to the front and two TO the back
door, while the fifth man stood ready to receive
the scout In case he dropped from a second
story window supposed TO bein his bed room.
We crept softly mp, and at a signal both doors
were burst. No, they werntl Neither OF
them gave an inch under the pressure, and in
response to the efforts we made wonian's
voice called out: ----r.
''who is 1t, and what's wantcdi"
"oper the door or wen break Il dowul"
'wait one minDteI'' e.
She struck light, and we heard her moving
about, and in n couple Of minutes the front
door opened and Fray-haired woman of IS
stood there with candle In her hand.
"Union soldiers, ehi Come right In" she
solu enllltnS as II Elou 10 sec US.
Iposted three of the men around the house
and entered with the other. aud as soon rs I
was inside, said:
Madam. we have como FOR your SOB, We
know he is here. We shall take him dead or
alive" rt
"Oh, you have como for Billy, have you"
exclaimed girl about IS Ssars of .ags. who
came running down stairs at that moment---
l,sExcuse me, gentlemen. for not being fnlly,
dressed, but you see you didn't send US any
word
She. laughed In merry way. while the
mother smiled good-neturedIy. She had on a
neat fitting calico dress, ribbon at her throat,
and except that her hair looked 'tumbled" sha
looked rs well prepared as 81 she expected our
coming.
"Yes, Jennie. they want Billy said tho
mother as she placed the candle on a stand.
"And we are bound to take him, dead or
alivel" added in a loud voice, suspeeting the
scout was within hearing.
"Oh, how sorryi" laughed the girl. an
brother Billy had only known you were COM
ingl But he didn't, you sec, and so he went
away at dark. He'll never forgive himself
never"
"we must search the housc, said.
Oh. certainly. Nanny, you light another
candle and I'll show the gentlemen around
Perhaps the sight of BiIly's old clothes will do
'em good.
Well, sir, We hunted that house from attict6
cellar, and all We found was an old suit of
Blly's clothes. The scout had skipped, and
the best could do was to apologize tOmother
and daughter, accept d midnight luncheon at
the hands Of the latter, and take the back track
for the river. I'll own up, too, that was
"dead gone on Jennie before 1 Ielt. and that
1 said to her, as squeezed her hand at partingi
"when the war Is over I'm coming TO ask
yon to be my wife"
-a"And-and-TI . " say say y-e-s,''rhe wbis-
percd In my car.
We got back to the ferry EoOn after daylight
and there met Union farmer living neighbor
to the widow. When he heard what we had
been up to he asked: ~. :
"Was the widder all al0neI"
"No; her daughter Jennie vas there"
"DaugBter JennieI Describe her. ~
=" Good locking girl of medium height, black
eyes and hair, and n sweet talkcr. I'm going
back to marry her after the war Is over
"Bet you a farm you don't! That ar gai
Jennie was nobody else but that ar scout, BiIlT
BoWlegsL He jist jumped into some of his
mammy's clothes, and you pig heads couldn't
see through ft!'' = .--'.-
He was right. met Billy in HarpeTsFerry
after the war, and he wanted 70 know fl had
taken out the marriage license yet.
[Defroif Free Press.